The Mark

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"No, not now, but possibly soon. I don't know... a year, ten years, six months ... we're just waiting for the Antichrist to reveal his true identity in the temple and then we're off to hide. But those of us in the fellowship want our friends and family to start mentally prepar ing themselves."

Thomas could sense the tension rising as Robin unclenched her jaw and jumped back in. "You know we are more conservative in our views on end times than Reverend Blackmore, but this is ridiculous. The mere thought that God would make us go through His wrath is outrageous.

"It's not His wrath. Not in the beginning." Charlie leaned toward Robin and seemed to focus his words on her. "The natural disasters seen in the seals are just an increase in what is already commonplace. His wrath begins with the supernatural sign in the heavens and then there is no mistaking that God's wrath is come. Fire from heaven, one hundred pound hailstones, water to blood-we're not destined for that, but we are here while Satan makes his final attempt to rid the world of believers and Jews."

"So you're telling me that God is going to allow Satan to put my daughters through intense persecution? Is that what you are saying?" Thomas could feel the heat of Robin's temper pulsing from her body next to him on the couch. He needed to put an end to this.

"Listen, Charlie, I believe you are sincere about this, and bottom line, we're all believers here in this room. No matter what happens, we'll all end up in heaven, so let's not lose sight of that fact." He threw a smile in Robin's direction that was not well received. "Believers can have disagreements on theology and still be friends. So let's just calm down here and agree to disagree. Personally, I am not very well versed in end times theology, so I feel a bit in the dark."

"I don't mean to upset you, Robin. I'm sure your father is a good man, I am just asking you to look at the Scriptures again. Look at it in the same way you would study the book of James or read the Psalms. Take it for what it says at face value."

"I do that already." Thomas knew Robin was not cooling down, but before he could try to change the subject, Charlie continued.

"Good, good. And I know we are all believers, but if I am right," Thomas felt the intensity as Charlie stared him in the eyes, "you have a family to protect, Thomas. I need you to look at this for yourself. I am praying that the Holy Spirit would"

"I've heard enough!" Robin stood and looked at Thomas, who was still on the couch. "Thomas, he can't talk down to me like that." She turned to Charlie. "We've been friends for years, Charlie, but tonight you pushed me too far."

Thomas watched as Robin stormed out of the room. He heard her footsteps march down the hall and then up the stairs, most likely to their bedroom. He looked back at Charlie, sitting with a sober look still on his face. Charlie spoke first.

"I didn't mean to upset her. I'm sorry." They both stood.

"She'll calm down. She has a soft place in her heart for you, Charlie. You know that. But she does get emotional about this, probably be cause of her dad and his teaching."

"I really love both of you, so humor me, Thomas. Read the Scrip tures. You know where to find me. At least for now you do."

Charlie shook Thomas's hand and then walked alone to the front door. Thomas heard the door open and close. He headed upstairs and found Robin fuming in the bathroom, as she took her contacts out.

"Can you believe that? We invite him over. We feed him. And he starts this radical, 1-know-the-Bible-better-than-you conversation about us and the girls being slaughtered by the Antichrist. You have got to be kidding me!" Her hands flew in the air as she spoke, making Thomas take a step back so as not to get hit.

"He's gone, you can calm down now."

"And Thomas, you just sat there. You didn't defend me or my father." "I said I didn't know much about it." Robin turned to him, eyes flashing. "How long is that going to be

your excuse? When will you start to learn for yourself? Do I have to

teach you everything?"

"Why would I bother learning it when you obviously have it fig ured out for both of us?" He had been patient with her long enough.

"What does that mean?" "I couldn't get a word in edgewise tonight because you were going to get your point across with or without me."

"I had no choice. You were mute."

Thomas watched as she stared at her own reflection. "Why did you turn this on me? Be mad at Charlie, but why me?"

She looked down into the sink. "Because you are supposed to de fend and protect me. I felt like I was being attacked and you just sat there."

"You have a twisted version of what happened tonight." He turned and walked out of the bathroom. Thomas grabbed his pillow from

his side of the bed and headed back downstairs. He grabbed a blanket from the chest in the corner of the family room and made his bed for the night on the couch. She could stew in her own juice for a while. He didn't need her attitude or her warmth tonight.

Thomas grabbed the remote control and turned on the television. At the same time he heard his bedroom door upstairs slam. All hope of returning upstairs was extinguished with one fell swoop. This was the same old same old. How many nights had he spent on the couch in the last month? Three or four? He loved his wife dearly, but some times she was just completely irrational. There was no reasoning with her. Though he'd rather be upstairs next to her in his own bed, he knew with the sound of that slam that his night would finish out on the couch. He reached up for the lamp on the table behind the couch and noticed Robin's Bible sitting there.

What would it hurt to look at those passages? What were they? Matthew twenty-something? The seals in Revelation?

Thomas decided his growing headache wouldn't get better with additional stress, so he turned off the light, and a few minutes later, the television. Hopefully by the morning Robin would calm down. Then he heard the upstairs door open and steps in the hallway. Thomas smiled and knew that she was coming to apologize. He sat up and pumped his fists in victory. No couch tonight-no sir-ee!

Instead of footsteps down the stairs however, he heard a thump, like something falling to the ground from the second floor. He turned on the lamp over his head and saw his shoes and some clothes lying in the hallway. That answered that question. He wouldn't be seeing his wife in the morning. He now had his clothes for work and the ar gument would continue for another day.

February

It took several months for Henry to finally attempt to discuss the re turn of Christ with Anna. He was pleased with the progression of their friendship and though the fellowship was still committed to sharing their concerns with loved ones, Henry just couldn't bring himself to throw a wrench into their growing friendship. But time was passing and the signs were not fading. Henry decided he couldn't wait any longer.

They had gone out for dinner and a movie, but the movie had been a bust and they left early. He suggested they stop by a small cof fee shop and she readily agreed. He was becoming more and more comfortable with their friendship, though he still didn't discuss spir itual things too often. This was going to be a difficult conversation because he knew he would have to go into specifics and that's where they always went separate ways. He had held this off long enough but knew as they sat at a small table in the corner that it was time to broach the subject.

"Do you remember last April when we first met, and it didn't go so well?" started Henry.

"I try not to, but yeah," Anna said with a smile, as she sipped her

mocha latte.

"It's hard to believe we had such a rough start. I really enjoy your friendship, Anna."

"I do, too." Anna's eyes fluttered a bit and he noticed the color rise

in her cheeks.

"There's something I want to talk with you about. Actually, it's more like something I'm involved with that I would like you to know about."

"O... kay..."Anna sounded apprehensive. "I have been a part of a fellowship for a couple of years. It's a group

of Christian men and we meet every month to study the Word."

"Like a Bible study group?"

"Kind of, but it's a lot deeper than that."

"So, why do you want me to know about this?"

"Well, back at our rough start, you made a joke about forgiving

me before the rapture happened. That really struck a chord with me."

"I don't even remember that-maybe I should have apologized for my sarcasm. But come on, Henry, that was almost a year ago. We weren't even friends then. And if I remember correctly, it still took us three or four months before that even happened." She smiled and Henry quickly responded.

"No, that's not why I am bringing it up. You see, the fellowship is based on our beliefs of Christ's return."

"You all meet together because you believe in the rapture?"

"We believe that the rapture is something we are to look for, based on some very specific signs Christ gave."

"What do you mean?"

The door was open and Henry began to share his beliefs on Christ's return. He laid out for her the Scripture concerning Christ's return, starting with Daniel and working his way to Revelation. He was encouraged, even a bit excited that she sat listening so intently, even smiling at his points. He hadn't brought his Bible, but was able to explain how Christ's warnings and the seals of Revelation lined up perfectly, placing His return right before God's wrath, but after a great persecution of the church and Israel.

"So," he concluded, "what do you think?"

"Oh, it's fascinating! I can really tell you're passionate about this! Does this fellowship only study end times?" Henry was pleased she was still smiling. He breathed easier and felt his fears fading away. Maybe their relationship was mature enough now to talk about spiri tual things.

"Um, no, but lately that topic has taken most of our time. We are suspicious of the Russian President Magorum and are concerned about his enlarging power base."

"What do you mean 'concerned'? Do you think he's the Antichrist?"

"I wouldn't quite go that far... yet... but he's worth watching." Henry paused a moment and decided to ask her the big question. "What does your church say about what's going on in the world?"

Henry prepared himself for the standard answer-"We don't talk

about it" or "We're not going to be here" but he was surprised at what

came out of Anna's mouth.

"We actually just did a series on end times." "Really? What was the main point?"

"Reverend Blackmore talked about the spirit of antichrist in America, as well as in the world, and how the tolerance movement is opening doors for us to be understood. Historically speaking, Chris tians have had such a bad reputation from the Crusades to the slaugh ter of the indigenous peoples in South America. The new tolerance movement is quieting the radicals and allowing the true message of the gospel to be enjoyed by believers around the world."

"And this has to do with end times because..." Henry knew he should watch his tone.

"Because, in order to usher in the return of Christ, we need to spread the gospel to all the world. The new tolerance movement allows our message to be heard in a nonthreatening manner. Soon the gospel will be heard throughout the world and Jesus will return!" Anna exclaimed boldly, and Henry sensed her confidence.